Filter clamp lock

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a band clamp assembly. The band clamp assembly includes a drive rack and a housing including a receiving hole, a rotatable drive gear, and a locking pawl. The band clamp is movable to a locking position by advancing the drive rack through the receiving hole in the housing. A first side of the drive rack is designed to engage the rotatable drive gear and the locking pawl is designed to engage a second side of the drive rack.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A band clamp assembly, the band clamp assembly comprising:
 a drive rack; and 
 a housing including a receiving hole, a rotatable drive gear, and a locking pawl, 
 the band clamp being movable to a locking position by advancing the drive rack through the receiving hole in the housing, and a first side of the drive rack is designed to engage the rotatable drive gear and the locking pawl is designed to engage a second side of the drive rack. 
 
     
     
       2. The band clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive rack further comprises a first locking position notch located on the second side of the drive rack to engage the locking pawl when the locking pawl is in a first position. 
     
     
       3. The band clamp assembly of  claim 2 , wherein engaging the locking pawl when the locking pawl is in a first position substantially prevents lateral movement of the drive rack in at least one direction though the receiving hole. 
     
     
       4. The band clamp assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a pawl spring positioned within a pawl spring recess, which forces the locking pawl into engagement with the first locking position notch. 
     
     
       5. The band clamp assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the locking pawl comprises a pawl release tab and actuating the pawl release tab overcomes a pawl spring force and disengages the locking pawl from the first locking position notch. 
     
     
       6. The band clamp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive rack further includes a toothed portion on the first side of the drive rack to engage the rotatable drive gear. 
     
     
       7. The band clamp assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drive rack further includes a second locking position notch to engage the locking pawl when the locking pawl is in a second position, the second locking position notch being positioned laterally away from the first locking position notch and located on the second side of the drive rack. 
     
     
       8. The band clamp assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the band clamp has a first diameter when the drive rack is positioned for the locking pawl to engage the first locking position notch and a second diameter when the drive rack is positioned for the locking pawl to engage the second locking position notch. 
     
     
       9. The band clamp assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 
     
     
       10. A clamp lock to secure a band clamp around a vessel, the clamp lock comprising:
 a drive rack having a first side and a second side, the second side including at least one locking notch; and 
 a housing including a receiving hole to receive the drive rack, a rotatable drive gear to engage the first side of the drive rack, and a locking pawl configured to engage the at least one locking notch to substantially prevent lateral movement of the drive rack in at least one direction. 
 
     
     
       11. The clamp lock of  claim 10 , wherein the drive rack further includes a toothed portion disposed on the first side of the drive rack. 
     
     
       12. The clamp lock of  claim 11 , wherein the band clamp is defined by a first diameter when the locking pawl is engaged with the at least one locking notch. 
     
     
       13. The clamp lock of  claim 11 , wherein the drive rack includes at least a second locking notch. 
     
     
       14. The clamp lock of  claim 13 , wherein the band clamp is defined by a second diameter when the locking pawl engages the second locking notch. 
     
     
       15. The clamp lock of  claim 14 , wherein the first diameter of the band clamp is sufficient to secure the band clamp around the vessel and the second diameter of the band clamp is sufficient to allow installation of the band clamp over the vessel. 
     
     
       16. The clamp lock of  claim 11 , wherein the rotatable drive gear includes a drive shaft manually rotatable in order to rotate the rotatable drive gear, and teeth positioned around a circumference of the rotatable drive gear, the teeth being capable of engaging the toothed portion of the drive rack so that rotation of the rotatable drive gear causes lateral movement of the drive rack through the receiving hole. 
     
     
       17. The clamp lock of  claim 10 , wherein the locking pawl includes a pawl release tab wherein actuating the pawl release tab disengages the locking pawl from the at least one locking notch. 
     
     
       18. The clamp lock of  claim 10 , wherein the drive rack is coupled to a first end of the band clamp and the housing is coupled to a second end of the band clamp. 
     
     
       19. The clamp lock of  claim 10 , further comprising a pawl tension spring having a first end and a second end. 
     
     
       20. The clamp lock of  claim 19 , wherein the first end of the pawl tension spring engages an interior surface of a pawl tension spring recess within the housing and the second end of the pawl tension spring engages the locking pawl, and wherein the pawl tension spring forces the locking pawl into engagement with the at least one locking notch.